Not the first time I have seen this type of cannibalism on ebay. About a year or so ago someone cut the whole bb assembly out of a frame to sell the spindle, cranks and rings with pedals attached. From time to time I do see other parts of a frame cut to acquire an item or two. I have even seen at the Westminster bike show last February in Maryland a high end bike, I think it was a Trek or LeMond, that was for sale at a great price. It was hanging up high on the wall and at first I could not understand why no one nailed that bike and I was getting ready to pounce. A close examination revealed that a good section of top tube was cut out and replaced with another tube just jammed into the other. I think it was a CF frame with a steel tube being used as a splint. For someone who needed parts this was a decent deal.
Ray Homiski
Elizabeth, NJ